A cleaning fan has shown followers how to repurpose their Christmas trees to make a seriously cheap and effective antibacterial spray that’s suitable for all surfaces
If you’re blessed with the joy of a real Christmas tree in your home, you might be wondering how to give it a second life after the festivities.
Well, one creative fellow on TikTok, known as @creative_explained, has taken to the platform to reveal a nifty trick for transforming your tired fir into an efficient cleaning concoction.
He enthralled his followers with a video titled: “You won’t believe what you can do with a Christmas tree”, and true to his word, numerous people were amazed in the comments section, discovering that the same tree which held their cherished ornaments could also become a household cleaner.
The handy DIY tip goes as follows: “Cut a few branches off your Christmas tree, chop them up a little bit, grab an air-tight container, put the pine needles in it, and then fill it up with some white vinegar, close it, and let it soak like that for about three weeks.”
At the end of this period, the mixture will take on a “nice golden colour”; that’s when it’s time to procure a spray bottle and “strain some of the liquid out into it.”
He clarifies why this works so well, saying: “Pine needles are packed with anti-bacterial properties and in combination with the vinegar, it makes a super awesome disinfectant.”
You can use the homemade spray on “anything” around your house, leaving behind a “pleasant” aroma. He suggests tackling mirrors, toilets, floors, and worktops with it. Remarkably, given that you can snag white vinegar from Tesco for a mere 35p, this becomes a splendidly economical and smart way to extend the utility of your Christmas tree into the new year.
According to DIY Natural: “Pine is naturally antibacterial and smells great”, which means it can be turned into soap or a home cleaner. Within the comments section, some highlighted that their tree was “artificial” stopping them from trying this out, yet those who could gave thumbs up to the hack.
One impressed person commented: “Saves the environment which is good and helpful”, and another applauded: “So, a super cheap PineSol, AND without all those extra chemicals?!?! Awesome idea! Thanks for sharing!”